The "Covers Suit" by Letarte Swimwear features covers of all 50 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editions. The Fairfield-based swimsuit maker designed the material and had a company in Portugal make the fabric, weaving the images into it. Seen above, one of two bikinis produced is on the cover of an SI 50th anniversary coffee-table book released in October.

The "Covers Suit" by Letarte Swimwear features covers of all 50 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editions. The Fairfield-based swimsuit maker designed the material and had a company in Portugal make the fabric,

Fairfield's Letarte Swimwear Inc. has again made it onto the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition with one of its designs. In this year's 50th anniversary edition, supermodel Heidi Klum wears what Letarte calls its "Covers Suit" --- but obviously not because it covers much of Klum's figure. less

Fairfield's Letarte Swimwear Inc. has again made it onto the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition with one of its designs. In this year's 50th anniversary edition, supermodel Heidi Klum wears what ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Heidi Klum models two versions of Letarte Swimwear's "Covers" bikini and a "Covers" one-piece suit. Klum was SI's cover model in 1998, and an image of that cover is on the suits she's modeling.

Heidi Klum models two versions of Letarte Swimwear's "Covers" bikini and a "Covers" one-piece suit. Klum was SI's cover model in 1998, and an image of that cover is on the suits she's modeling.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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In 2013, Letarte made the SI Swimsuit cover when model Kate Upton was photographed wearing Letarte's White Haute Mesh Bikini ... well, at least the bottom of it. The 14-year-old Fairfield company also made the SI over in 2005 with a red-beaded bikini. less

In 2013, Letarte made the SI Swimsuit cover when model Kate Upton was photographed wearing Letarte's White Haute Mesh Bikini ... well, at least the bottom of it. The 14-year-old Fairfield company also made the ... more

For the 14th consecutive year, Fairfield-based Letarte Swimwear Inc. has made it to the promised land of bikini designers -- the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

In the magazine's 50th anniversary edition, which hit news stands last week, supermodel Heidi Klum appears in a Letarte creation the designer calls its "Covers Suit" -- but not because it covers very much of Klum's figure.

Letarte designed a fabric with images of all 50 SI Swimsuit covers printed on it. The designer commissioned a company in Portugal to produce the nylon/spandex fabric with the images woven into it, then made suits from it, Letatre spokeswoman Carolanne Ghee said.

The other bikini is on the cover of a 50th anniversary coffee-table book released in October, "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit / 50 Years of Beautiful." That likely will have far longer shelf life than this year's magazine.

Images of Klum modeling both bikinis and the one-piece suit are on the SI website, Ghee said.

Even if you or a significant other has the shape to wear a Covers Suit, you won't find it in retail shops or at Letarte's annual warehouse sale, according to Ghee. The three suits were made only to be photographed for the magazine and coffee-table book.

On the 2005 cover, model Carolyn Murphy showed off a Letarte red-beaded bikini.

While Letarte designed the "Covers" suits and submitted them to SI, the magazine staff chose Klum to model one of them.

"I can't even tell you how excited I am that I get to wear the suit with all the beautiful covers that Sports Illustrated has ever done," Klum said in a news release issued by Letarte.

Published by Time Inc., SI says its swimsuit edition reaches 62 million adults, a growing number of them women who view the edition as a fashion publication. Forbes magazine reported females account for about one-third of readers.

Letarte's headquarters are on Carter Henry Drive, a block off Post Road in a bland, concrete-block building that faces the Metro North Railroad tracks. The site is in stark contrast to the company's products, which include high-end swimsuits and other beachwear.

The company has six of its own retail stores, including one in Greenwich, and its designs are sold in more than 400 other retail outlets worldwide.

The Letarte sisters grew up in New Hampshire and founded the company in 2000 after working in other careers.

Lisa Letarte Cabrinha is a former professional wind surfer who lives in Maui, Hawaii, and is the company's chief designer. Michelle Letarte Ross, whose business background is in fashion and marketing, is the company president and based in Fairfield .

Ross lasted year said the privately owned company's annual sales were under $10 million.